"Love handles" occur when excess belly fat makes the waist stick out to the side. The choice of clothing that is not right makes the fat bulge more clearly visible, even you seem to have love handles, even though you don't! Although difficult, love handles can be removed with exercise. In addition, you can hide your love handles by wearing the right clothes, avoiding making mistakes in choosing clothes, and getting other people's attention away from the problematic body part.
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Part 1 of 5: Choosing the Right Dress
Step 1. Wear high-waisted bottoms
In general, the waist circumference is smaller than the hip circumference. Wearing high-waisted bottoms makes the curves of the waist and hips look more beautiful. What's more, high-waisted bottoms don't get caught below the waist so that they form a bulge.
- Choose clothes that fit the waist circumference just above or slightly above the navel.
- In addition, look for wide-waisted bottoms that have at least 2 buttons attached with the back higher than the front. Thus, the waist is not tied so that the body shape looks strange.
Step 2. Wear an empire or A model top
Empire-style shirts are sewn to the waist according to body size and widen down starting from the waist. This model makes the appearance more attractive because the curve of the waist is visible, but is able to disguise a fat stomach and hide the love handles.
The A-style shirt is similar to the empire model, but extends downwards starting from the bust. Tops and dresses of model A make the big upper body look more proportional and hide the love handles
Step 3. Choose a color that has a slimming effect
So far, dark clothes are considered to make the body look slimmer, but this advice is not necessarily useful. Instead of wearing black tops and bottoms to hide the love handles for a slimmer look, wear dark clothes on large body parts and light colored clothes on small body parts.
For example, if you want to disguise your fat belly to make your body appear slimmer, wear dark bottoms (especially on the belly) and brightly colored tops, such as wearing a high-waisted A-style bottom skirt and a brightly colored blouse tucked into the bottom skirt
Step 4. Try different styles of shirts
Some models of shirts and dresses are suitable for people with large waists because they can distract from the love handles so they feel more comfortable, for example:
- Kimono style shirt
- kaftan
- Shirts and dresses with straps tied at the waist or at the stomach
Step 5. Wear a top with a colorful patterned material
Another way to hide love handles is to wear clothes with flashy motifs, unique designs, or lots of wrinkles to disguise less attractive body parts.
- Choose a top that has a lot of wrinkles or has a drapery at the waist.
- Try wearing clothes with unique models, diagonal lines, and striking motifs.
Step 6. Put on the corset
Undergarments called corsets are very effective at hiding love handles because corsets are designed to make the body look slim and beautify the curves of the body. Because it serves as underwear, wear a corset before putting on clothes. There are several kinds of corsets to hide the love handles:
- A bust to hip length corset is very useful if you want to wear a tight dress.
- Corset pants to reduce waist circumference is a great choice if you want to wear tight jeans, leggings, or short skirts.
Part 2 of 5: Avoid clothes that make love handles visible
Step 1. Don't wear clothes that wrap around your body very tightly
So that you can hide the love handles, make sure you are able to decide which clothes are right and which are wrong. Tight tops and clinging to skin that doesn't shape the body make love handles visible, especially if worn with very tight bottoms and the wrong model.
Avoid clothes made of materials that stick to the skin and show curves, such as satin, pure polyester, or T-shirts (spandex and lycra)
Step 2. Don't wear clothes that are straight
Unlike the A and Empire models, clothes that are straight in style will highlight the waist and abdomen so that the love handles are visible.
Apply this advice when wearing blouses, shirts, and dresses
Step 3. Don't wear a waistband
Many people think that waistbands help hide the love handles. However, a wide or very wide waistband makes the waist tied so that the love handles get bigger.
- If you want to wear a very wide belt, choose one that can be looped slightly above the hips and wear a loose blouse.
- Also, you can wear a light waistband, but don't let it suffocate your waist.
Step 4. Don't wear pants that are too tight
Tight underwear, especially those that use thin elastics or straps can strangle the waist so that the love handles enlarge. In addition, panties with small ropes that are tied very tightly to form love handles that were not there before.
Similar to choosing a bottom shirt, wear high-waisted pants with wide elastic
Step 5. Avoid clothes that do not fit the waist circumference
Also avoid undergarments that are too tight or look inappropriate when worn. Don't force yourself to wear clothes that don't fit well, especially those with a small waist.
For example, tight jeans are very popular right now, but the love handles are even greater when you wear low-waisted tights
Part 3 of 5: Distraction
Step 1. Wear an eye-catching necklace
In addition to hiding your love handles (or other less attractive body parts), try various ways to distract the viewer from looking at you, such as using accessories. A unique necklace that stands out makes people interested in looking at your neck and chest so that the eyes shift from the waist.
Do not wear a long necklace because people's attention will be drawn to your stomach
Step 2. Wear a brightly colored or patterned scarf
Similar to wearing a necklace, circling your neck with a brightly colored scarf or a flashy pattern makes people pay attention to your face and neck so they don't see the love handles.
You can wear a scarf in the dry season, but choose a light scarf from a material that absorbs sweat, such as cotton or linen
Step 3. Wear striking earrings
Large, long, or dangling earrings in the ear make other people pay attention to your face, not your belly. Plus, you can change your look if you're tired of wearing necklaces and scarves.
If you don't like or shouldn't wear long earrings at work, look for large, brightly colored earrings or unique short earrings
Step 4. Wear a blouse with an attractive neck shape
Another way to distract from the love handles is to make the chest and neck look attractive. For that, wear a blouse with a V-shaped neck, round, or drapery. This step is an option for people who are not allowed to wear jewelry or scarves at work.
Step 5. Tie the sweater around the waist
You can hide the love handles by tying the sleeves of a sweater or jacket at the waist because the stacked fabric can cover the fat bulge at the waist.
- Place the sweater on your buttocks, wrap the sleeves of the sweater around your waist, then tie it in front of your stomach.
- In addition to a sweater, you can hide the love handles using a long-sleeved shirt tied at the waist.
Part 4 of 5: Hiding Love Handles for Men
Step 1. Do not tuck the shirt into the trousers
Love handles will be visible if the shirt is tucked into trousers. Therefore, wear a shirt that fits your body size and let the bottom of the shirt hang so that you feel more comfortable and the love handles are covered by the shirt.
If a shirt needs to be tucked in, for example at work, wear a jacket or blazer to hide the love handles
Step 2. Don't wear brightly colored or flashy shirts
A shirt that grabs attention makes other people interested in seeing your belly. Therefore, wear a plain, dark-colored shirt so as not to attract attention. Also, don't wear shirts:
- Bright color
- With a striking motif or model
- Striped or checkered
Step 3. Get used to standing or sitting up straight
When the body bends, the shoulders are pulled forward and the stomach swells because of the pressure so that the love handles enlarge.
- When you sit or stand, pull your shoulders back slightly while straightening your back. Keep your head up and engage your core muscles to support your upper body.
- Good posture helps with back pain, headaches, and makes you appear taller.
Step 4. Wear high-waisted trousers
Instead of wearing hipster trousers, opt for high-waisted ones to hide the love handles and make you appear slimmer. Hipster pants make your body feel like it's tied at the hips.
The waist is the part of the stomach that has the smallest circumference. To find out the position of the waist, loop the rope around the stomach just below the navel
Step 5. Wear tight underwear
This underwear is usually called a body shaper because it is very useful for hiding accumulated fat, love handles, and makes you look slimmer.
Get in the habit of wearing tight underwear before putting on a shirt
Part 5 of 5: Exercise to Get Rid of Love Handles
Step 1. Do cardio exercises
Although you can't lose fat only in certain body parts, love handles can be overcome by reducing body fat. For that, do activities that speed up the heart rate, such as cardio or aerobic exercise. In order for you to get maximum results, practice at least 30 minutes a day 4-5 times a week. The following exercises are beneficial for cardiovascular training:
- Swimming
- Running or jogging
- Circuit training
- Bicycle
- High intensity interval training
Step 2. Perform muscle strengthening exercises
This exercise is very beneficial because it helps you build muscle while burning fat. If you don't have time to lift weights at the gym, make time to do muscle strengthening exercises at home using your body weight by doing:
- Squats 20 times: stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart, then bend your knees and lower your body slowly until your thighs are parallel to the floor.
- Push ups 10 times: lie face down on the floor resting on the balls of your feet and palms while straightening your elbows. Slowly lower your body to the floor while straightening your body and then lift it back up to the starting position.
- Lunge while walking 20 times: step right foot forward to perform lunge. Stand straight and step your left foot forward to perform a lunge.
- Lifting dumbbells 10 times: prepare 2 chairs then place your right knee on the first chair and your right palm on the second chair. Holding dumbbells (or a bottle of mineral water or a can of paint) with your left hand by your side, slowly lower the dumbbells, then lift them up again. Do this movement 10 times each side.
- Plank posture for 15 seconds: lie facedown on the floor resting on your elbows. Lift your lower body off the floor so that you are resting on your forearms and the balls of your feet. Make sure your body forms a straight line from head to heels.
- Skip star 30 times.
Step 3. Work the muscles near the love handles
The muscles that need to be trained around the love handles so that the stomach and waist are slimmer are the oblique muscles. Love handles will shrink and disappear if this exercise is combined with a program to reduce body fat. Perform the following movements to train the oblique muscles.
- Side plank posture with knees to elbows: Lie on your side while supporting your body with your right elbow. Lift your hips off the floor so that you are resting on your right forearm, the outside of your right foot, and the inside of your left foot. Bend your right knee, bring it close to your left elbow, then return to the starting position. Do this movement 10-12 times and then repeat to train the other side of the body.
- Push ups by lowering your elbows one at a time to the floor: lie facedown on the floor resting on your toes and forearms. Without turning your hips, press your right palm to the floor and straighten your right elbow followed by your left hand to lift your body off the floor. Lower your right elbow back to the floor slowly followed by your left elbow. Repeat this movement (starting by straightening your left hand and then your right hand and vice versa) for 30-45 seconds.
